Page:Final Report of the Northwest Territory Celebration Commission.pdf/41

 There was even an obvious element of land speculation and personal gain for members and/or their constituents. One Southern member of Congress justifies the anti-slavery provision, in a personal letter written at the time, on the basis of preventing Northwest Territory from becoming competitive "in raising indigo and tobacco".

Another member wrote to the effect that these principles would probably satisfy the ruffians and low people who would undoubtedly inhabit the new region.

Another delegate, however, did laconically—but prophetically observe that the attitude of the western people was "more tonic than that along the eastern seaboard".

The substance of the entire Proceeding was that these provisions, now become bone and sinew of the American idea came into our governmental scheme, not through sublime ideas of members of Congress presumably delegated as leaders of the people, but rather through the insistent demands of more common men, and even directly as a result of a commercial and material transaction.

The seventh episode depicted the trek westward and was necessary to tie in and give meaning to the caravan itself,

The eighth and last of the periods portrayed the establishment of civil government in Northwest Territory; the putting into effect in the nation's first great territorial expansion, of the principles of the Ordinance—the setting of the pattern for the United States of today.

It should be explained that not all the contentions of the Ohio Company of Associates were included in the Ordinance itself. For instance, the provisions as to grants of public lands for educational institutions, which were the genesis of our State Universities and public school system, were not mentioned in the Ordinance, but were set forth in the subsequent contract with the Ohio Company.

So also was the stipulation as to "ministerial lands", public lands set aside for the support of religion.

This pageant-drama required about two hours for its presentation. One hundred and fourteen historic characters were portrayed by the 36 men of the caravan,

These men were not professional actors, and in many cases had no previous experience in dramatics. They did however put into it a zest and a freshness which carried a sincerity and genuineness perhaps beyond that of the professional stage.

While the pageant-drama lacked many desirable features, it was by all odds the most effective way to present an educational and inspirational set of historical facts to a large number of people and at a nominal cost.

The caravan as a whole turned out to be, as was intended, the focal point of the entire celebration.

It was one of those things which People said could not be done. And yet, it was done on schedule as time and as to cost. A great deal of appreciation is due those who were concerned with it, but beyond their efforts, credit must be given for the "breaks":

A destiny rode with that Caravan.